Feminism Summary A LEVAL
Explain the theme of the public/private divide. - ✔✔✔Politics an activity which takes place in the
public divide, family life and relationships seen in private sphere, modern feminists insist politics takes
place in all social groups and not just within government, exists whenever social conflict is found,
Millett- politics as 'power-structured relationships, arrangements whereby one group of persons is
controlled by another, feminists argue sexual inequality preserved due to sexual division of labour
running through society as 'natural' not 'political', typically public sphere is for men while private sphere
for women, role of women and sexual equality of little or no importance for politics only in public
sphere, challenge this divide, radical- 'the personal is the political', female oppression operates in all
walks of life and originates in family itself, analyse 'politics of everyday life', process of conditioning in
family, distribution of housework, politics of personal and sexual conduct, breaking down barrier means
transferring responsibilities of private like to state eg nursery schools, liberal- object to restrictions on
women's access to public sphere of education, warn against politicizing private sphere which is realm of
personal choice and individual freedom.
Explain the theme of the patriarchy. - ✔✔✔Gender is a politically significant social cleavage, radical-
gender deepest social division, theory of 'sexual politics', 'sexism' a form of oppression, conventional
political theory ignores sexual oppression and fails to recognize gender as a politically significant
category, feminists developed new theories and concepts, patriarchy- dominance of men, describe
power relationships between men and women, describe structure of the family, others believe it
symbolizes male supremacy in all institutions, Millett 'patriarchal government' as 'that half of the
populace which is female is controlled by that half which is male', 'male shall dominate female, elder
male shall dominate younger', hierarchic society, characterized by sexual oppression, domination has
varied in different cultures at different times, eg FGM in other parts of the world, liberal- draw attention
to unequal distribution of rights and entitlements in society, under-representation of women in senior
positions in politics, socialist-economic aspects, operates in tandem with capitalism, gender
subordination and class inequality interlinked systems of oppression, some reject term altogether for
inequality is merely consequence of class system, capitalism is the issue, radical- systematic,
institutionalized form of male power rooted in the family, pattern of male domination and female
subordination that characterizes society at large is a reflection of power structures within domestic life.
Explain the theme of sex and gender. - ✔✔✔Conservative anti-feminist argument- gender divisions are
'natural', woman's physical and anatomical make-up suits her to subordinate and domestic role in
society, 'biology is destiny', capacity to bear children unique to female sex, as well as menstruation,
however these do not determine social destiny, do not need to accept responsibilities of motherhood,
link between childbearing and childrearing is cultural over biological, 'symmetrical families' where
Explain the theme of the public/private divide. - ✔✔✔Politics an activity which takes place in the
public divide, family life and relationships seen in private sphere, modern feminists insist politics takes
place in all social groups and not just within government, exists whenever social conflict is found,
Millett- politics as 'power-structured relationships, arrangements whereby one group of persons is
controlled by another, feminists argue sexual inequality preserved due to sexual division of labour
running through society as 'natural' not 'political', typically public sphere is for men while private sphere
for women, role of women and sexual equality of little or no importance for politics only in public
sphere, challenge this divide, radical- 'the personal is the political', female oppression operates in all
walks of life and originates in family itself, analyse 'politics of everyday life', process of conditioning in
family, distribution of housework, politics of personal and sexual conduct, breaking down barrier means
transferring responsibilities of private like to state eg nursery schools, liberal- object to restrictions on
women's access to public sphere of education, warn against politicizing private sphere which is realm of
personal choice and individual freedom.
Explain the theme of the patriarchy. - ✔✔✔Gender is a politically significant social cleavage, radical-
gender deepest social division, theory of 'sexual politics', 'sexism' a form of oppression, conventional
political theory ignores sexual oppression and fails to recognize gender as a politically significant
category, feminists developed new theories and concepts, patriarchy- dominance of men, describe
power relationships between men and women, describe structure of the family, others believe it
symbolizes male supremacy in all institutions, Millett 'patriarchal government' as 'that half of the
populace which is female is controlled by that half which is male', 'male shall dominate female, elder
male shall dominate younger', hierarchic society, characterized by sexual oppression, domination has
varied in different cultures at different times, eg FGM in other parts of the world, liberal- draw attention
to unequal distribution of rights and entitlements in society, under-representation of women in senior
positions in politics, socialist-economic aspects, operates in tandem with capitalism, gender
subordination and class inequality interlinked systems of oppression, some reject term altogether for
inequality is merely consequence of class system, capitalism is the issue, radical- systematic,
institutionalized form of male power rooted in the family, pattern of male domination and female
subordination that characterizes society at large is a reflection of power structures within domestic life.
Explain the theme of sex and gender. - ✔✔✔Conservative anti-feminist argument- gender divisions are
'natural', woman's physical and anatomical make-up suits her to subordinate and domestic role in
society, 'biology is destiny', capacity to bear children unique to female sex, as well as menstruation,
however these do not determine social destiny, do not need to accept responsibilities of motherhood,
link between childbearing and childrearing is cultural over biological, 'symmetrical families' where
